LowerCaseRepublican

This is one of the sample columns that I sent in...in case anybody would be interested... There is a clear and present danger to Illinois residents. I am not talking about the budget crisis. I am not talking about funding disparities in Illinois schools that rank Illinois near the bottom nationally in education. I’m talking the thing every person fears – pixilated video game violence! Safe Games Illinois is a program started by Governor Blagojevich is looking to ban the sale of “Mature” rated video games to children under the age of 18. Not only is this a waste of the Governor’s time but there are several fundamental flaws with his moralistic crusade. On the Safe Games Illinois web site, the Governor states that he wants to “shield our children” from objectionable items. I’m sorry Mr. Blagojevich, but can we leave the decision making regarding the raising of children to the child’s parents instead of having the government intercede as “We know what’s good for everyone!” nanny? A parent knows their child much better than the Illinois General Assembly and would know if the child is developmentally able to distinguish fantasy from reality enough to enjoy a video game. The Governor claims that we must keep these objectionable games out of the hands of very young children. However, Mr. Blagojevich fails to realize that for many young children, the money to buy different items lies within Daddy’s wallet or Mommy’s purse. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates these games and gives accurate descriptions to assist families and parents. Parents are able to see clear descriptions that detail the age appropriateness and also what potentially objectionable items a game entails. If the parents do not want their child to have such games, it is the parents’ responsibility to steer them towards a more age appropriate game. Even if Safe Games Illinois passes and the child wants an objectionable game, a parent can always purchase it for them thus making his law ineffectual. Governor Blagojevich also states “When kids play, they should play like children, not like gangland assassins”. Mr. Governor, when a child is able to distinguish reality from fantasy, they can play these games and not go out to commit violent atrocities. Children have been playing ‘Cops and Robbers’ and ‘Cowboys and Indians’ for years. Are you seriously contending that government further polices the play habits of children? How far do you want to go with this policy? Focus on solving the problems real violence and real atrocities that unfortunately permeate our society instead of crusading against those perpetrated in a fantasy world on a television set. Mr. Governor, please allow parents to make the choices that they feel are appropriate for their children. Parents, take the time to learn what your children are playing. Sit down with them and find out why they like playing certain games. Talk to them about why you may not like them playing certain games. Communicate – because it beats the government usurping your rights.

22. Urbana for school and Manhattan when I'm at home (the crappy one in IL)

QUOTE(Soxnbears01 @ May 9, 2005 -> 12:58 PM) ....me and krush have a extreme hate for the craphole called Kams if you guys are curious Who doesn't hate that Hell-Hole?

Hey all -- don't know why I'm sharing this here but I figure I should, haha. For all those who get the Herald News (Joliet, etc.) -- be sure to look for me as one of the new op ed columnists for this upcoming set of columnists. I got the phone call this afternoon that they want me to start writing for them this summer. I'm still in shock that they actually liked the two test columns that I sent in.

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ May 6, 2005 -> 04:00 PM) Flubbs lose.... HAHAHAHA LaToya sucks balls. Who were those morons saying Latoya would be a good pickup? As Steve Stone said: "LaTroy Hawkins is a great setup man and as a closer, he's a great setup man."

QUOTE(kapkomet @ May 5, 2005 -> 07:43 AM) It's now the "booty bill". LMAO But LCR, why is it the school's job to come up with a "comprehensive sex ed class"? Schools should have no part in that, it should be done at home. That's the major problem, IMO. We want the schools to be society's babysitters, sex ed teachers, psychologists, behavior changers, food providers, etc. Frankly that's the majority of the problem is that families (read, parents) do not take enough responsibility. But I could say the same for our government too, because too many people want our government to do the same things. You're right about parents not taking up a lot of the responsibility. I know from my personal experience that dealing with sex ed stuff in an academic setting was much much much easier for me than it was having the talk with my parents. I just think the school would have better resources to teach a very good sex ed program. As it stands right now, the government is dumping $$$ into the failed project of "abstinence only" -- since recent study showed: Although many pledgers abstained from vaginal intercourse, the recent study found that they still participated in other forms of sex that may have exposed them to STDs. The study found that young adults who took virginity pledges were six times more likely to have had oral sex than non-pledging teens, and that male pledgers were four times more likely to have engaged in anal sex than male non-pledgers who had not had vaginal sex. In addition, the researchers found that abstinence pledgers were significantly less likely to use contraception when they did engage in sexual activity, compared to their non-pledging peers. Male pledgers, for example, were 20% less likely to use condoms during sex than non-pledgers. The study even revealed that of pledgers who have had sex, the vast majority—88%—had done so before marriage. http://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/dis...9/424928352fe31 I think a school setting with adequate funds could do a very decent job teaching an inclusive sex ed program (while parents can do a lot -- I think a school sex ed program would be more "professional" and more up to date with information. I think it has to be a 2 pronged approach with the school giving the current up-to-date information etc. and then the student is able to discuss and synthesize it with the parents at home. Definitely let the community have a say in structuring the program. I'd write more but I have to finish my unit plan (its a final for my curriculum class...we have to make a week's worth of lesson plans, study guide, test, include outside sources, etc. etc. etc. for a unit on the Roman Empire) before the Sox game starts @ 1.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...t=.jsp&c_id=mlb Linky.

QUOTE(sec159row2 @ May 4, 2005 -> 07:00 PM) woa big fella... I just found it amusing that legislatures would have the time to spend on things like this.... puritanic self-loathing of our bodies ..????.... umm... I didn't look that deep into it.... sorry... and .. i don't spell so good neither.... Not only is it a waste of time -- but it is purely and entirely subjective...which isn't good for enforcement.

Is "speach" the same thing as "speech"? They know it when they see it? What the f*** kind of definition is that? It is just this kind of totally subjective bulls*** that keeps the PC movement happy. "Edwards argued bawdy performances are a distraction for students resulting in pregnancies, dropouts and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases." Wow, who knew it was cheerleading that was the cause of teens getting STDs and getting pregnant. I thought it was the puritanic self-loathing of our bodies and its desires that stopped a truly comprehensive sex ed course from being introduced into schools to educate kids about all the possibilities when engaging in sexual behavior (benefits, risks and ways to protect self if going to do such activities)

No link -- just had CNN on. Defense called Graner as a witness during penalty phase. He said that she was just following orders. The judge stopped the proceedings and said that if she was just following orders then the defense needed to have a not guilty plea. So the judge declared a mistrial and now the whole trial has to start all the f*** over again.

QUOTE(KWs OK for Me @ May 3, 2005 -> 05:32 PM) I'm running into trouble trying to load this up. When I click it just loads up realaudio and pops an error message up. Any suggestions? I'm pretty sure it is problems on their end.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ May 3, 2005 -> 07:00 AM) He could have tried saying that he got injured falling off trying to wash Jeff Kent's monster truck.

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ May 2, 2005 -> 11:12 PM) There is no draft........hasn't been one since 1973. Your understanding of the situation is about 32 years out of date. I was speaking of enlisted students going to school -- they get deferred until the end of the semester. Probably should have clarified better (damn finals week is kicking my ass...I've been spending all my damn time working on a set of lesson plans about the Roman Empire -- which is a final for a class I'm in)

QUOTE(EvilMonkey @ May 2, 2005 -> 09:02 PM) http://www.forsakethetroops.info/index.shtml I am not sure what to say about this. I see that insanity and I raise with a "Democrats are more dangerous than Al Qaeda, Nazis, Stalin, etc." http://movies.crooksandliars.com/This_Week_Robertson_5_1.mov We can all come together and laugh at these hilarious hacks.

QUOTE(T R U @ May 2, 2005 -> 09:12 PM) dammit! I knew I should have waited a little longer, I jumped the gun... and I thought full time college students couldnt get drafted anyways? As it stands now, you just get a deferment until the rest of the semester.

Step 1 - hold out for contract Step 2 - fly over handlebars on a motorcycle after breaking leg Step 3 - profit?

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ May 2, 2005 -> 01:25 PM) I know there's a few blithering idiots in the military but this looks to me like a horses*** insanity type defense. The insanity defense works better for the gen pop because, correct me if I am wrong, there is a pretty elaborate screening process that checks for this sort of stuff in the armed forces right Nuke?

Defense lawyer Rick Hernandez said last week that the defense will present evidence during sentencing that England has severe learning disabilities and mental health problems. Can I be the first to say -- Then how the f*** did she get into the military?!

I just loved seeing the photos of the fiance totally happy that she was found -- did it ever sink in to him that she lied about being kidnapped to avoid marrying his ass?

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ May 1, 2005 -> 10:16 PM) If you can find a highlights clip of it on MLB.com I'll do it. Video clip of Timo's 2 run HR is on whitesox.com IIRC, the call should be there. Thanks for the assist.

If anybody can find a wav file of it, I'd be quite appreciative.

Finding myself saying a sentence I doubted I'd ever say: I agree with Bud Selig. Now -- it says they are negotiating through the player's union...I just have to ask, what happens with the players that are not in the union? Would this be binding for them as well?

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Apr 30, 2005 -> 04:06 PM) That's what I never understood about the whole "war for oil" argument. Iraq produces, on its best day, about 2 million barrels of oil. That's peanuts compared to nations like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and even Iran. If you really wanted to talk about a war for oil the correct place to look was the first Gulf War and that's because Saddam Hussein was poised to sieze most of it in the gulf region. The amount of oil in the region, Nuke. The amount that could be harnessed in production. As Laurent Murawiec, the ex-LaRouche cultist who famously briefed the Pentagon Policy Board at Richard Perle's invitation, put it: "Iraq is the tactical pivot, Saudi Arabia the strategic pivot, Egypt the prize."

Watching a recent Sun. Night Baseball... Chris Berman "Ball chopped foul. Picked up by 3B coach Luis Sojo...in the rain for you Warren Zevon fans."

QUOTE(The Critic @ Apr 29, 2005 -> 12:13 PM) Wow. I heard about the bad leg, but had no idea it could lead to that! I thought he was always better than his gimmicks. Not great on the mic but a solid guy to have in a stable like the Triple Threat. Much better than Skip. That was just a terrible gimmick.